Sean J. Riddell

Sean Riddell is a native of Long Valley, New Jersey.  After high school Sean attended a small Liberal Arts Jesuit college called LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York.  He graduated in May of 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy.  Considering the need for full-time philosophers, Sean entered Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia in June of 1994 and graduated a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps twelve weeks later.  After completing his initial training at The Basic School, Sean attended the Infantry Officer’s Course and reported to his first assignment as an Infantry Platoon Commander with 2^nd Battalion 8^th Marine Regiment in Camp Lejeune, North Caroline.  Sean left active duty Marine Corps in June of 1998, backpacked across Ireland and, then drove cross county to a city he never visited before, where he knew no one, to attend a law school he just learned about six months before.  When asked why, Sean replies, “Because it is the only law school that accepted my application.”  Sean graduated Lewis & Clark Law School in May of 2001 and passed the bar in September of 2001. 

Sean started work as a Deputy District Attorney with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office in June of 2002.  While at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Sean prosecuted misdemeanor offenses, felony property crimes, domestic violence crimes, sexual assault crimes, homicides, aggravated murders, gun related crimes, financial fraud crimes and gang related crimes.  Sean left the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office in June of 2009 to serve as a prosecutor with the Oregon Department of Justice.  Sean worked in the Criminal Justice Division for two years and the Civil Litigation Division of the Oregon Department of Justice for one year, before starting his own practice in June of 2012.  Between 2002 and 2012, Sean was recalled twice to active duty by the Marine Corps to serve in Iraq as a Combat Engineer Officer in support of Operation Iraq Freedom. 

Sean focuses his practice on representing victims of crimes, law enforcement officers and veterans.  Sean’s practice touches several areas of the law including, but not limited to: plaintiff personal injury; labor disputes; internal affairs investigations; veteran’s preference in public employment; whistleblower protections; and civil rights litigation.  Sean was elected to the board in May of 2019.

Sean remained active in the Marine Corps Reserves after his deployments.  He served in various billets over the years including: Battalion Commander; Engineer Officer for Marine Forces Pacific; and Deputy Regimental Commander.  He has served in several countries including: South Korea, Latvia; Lithuania; Tunisia; Israel; Iraq; Kuwait; Albania; and France.  Sean also completed his Masters in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College in June of 2014.  He currently holds the rank of Colonel and is scheduled to retire in January of 2020.

Sean lives in Portland, Oregon and Waldport, Oregon with his wife Erin Greenawald and daughters Sophia and Georgia.  When not working or completing homework together, they enjoy hiking, gardening, board games, skiing and caring for their 17 year old wiener dog named Baxter.

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